Theo Fox: Siren Song A few thoughts on the Blackhawks search for a #1 defenseman on the heels of Seth Jones and now Dougie Hamilton being on the market.

Good morning Theo and thanks!

Idk, at this point, I'd prefer they steer clear of going after guys like Dougie and Seth and continue acquiring assets.

Thank you, Theo.
Put me in the "grow your own" column.
Think about it. If Boqvist, Mitchell, Kalynuk and Beaudin all max out as solid d #2's, the Blackhawks have a pretty darn good defensive lineup.

Good morning Theo and thanks!

Idk, at this point, I'd prefer they steer clear of going after guys like Dougie and Seth and continue acquiring assets.
- HawkintheD

Agreed. Plus Stan is waiting to sign Barkov next summer.

Agreed. Plus Stan is waiting to sign Barkov next summer.
- DarthKane

If that ends up happening, I think that would be a better direction. Assuming (hoping) Toews comes back healthy a top 3 of Barkov, Toews and Dach would be pretty formidable.

This feels like the wrong time to be going after players like these.

I hate to say it, but it feels like the future direction of this team is in one person's hands...Jonathan Toews. Once his status is settled, a lot will fall into place.

This feels like the wrong time to be going after players like these.

I hate to say it, but it feels like the future direction of this team is in one person's hands...Jonathan Toews. Once his status is settled, a lot will fall into place.
- hpk90

Agreed, and i kind of agree with fatty the league is a bit watered down and with the expansion draft, it'll just get worse. Just layer up in the talent pool.

Unlike fatty i really like the Islanders blue line, but yea the Russian is playing way better than he did in the 1st series.

I would like to see them get the next Jones or Hamilton. And as far as Hamilton, all they needed to do is acquire a slug stay at home good solid defender and play him with Gustafsson.

If that ends up happening, I think that would be a better direction. Assuming (hoping) Toews comes back healthy a top 3 of Barkov, Toews and Dach would be pretty formidable.
- HawkintheD

C’mon D give your head a shake, with Dach and Toews the Hawks would have two number three centres.

Good morning Theo and thanks!

Idk, at this point, I'd prefer they steer clear of going after guys like Dougie and Seth and continue acquiring assets.
-HawkintheD

I also second this, as we don’t even know what we have yet with all these young defensemen. Let’s give them a couple of years and then determine if and what to add to this young group.

C’mon D give your head a shake, with Dach and Toews the Hawks would have two number three centres.
- paulr

Well...a three and a four MAYBE.

Lets see what the Hawks front office thinks about the young players with the moves they make during the summer. I for one think this board (me included) have homer itis and overvalue our players. Hawks have 2 legit top 6 in Kane and ADB. Even on Montreal, Kubalik is a third liner (toffoli, Gallagher, Suzuki, Danault, Anderson, Kokoneimi) would play above Kubalik, as would the injured Drouin.

Agreed, and i kind of agree with fatty the league is a bit watered down and with the expansion draft, it'll just get worse. Just layer up in the talent pool.

Unlike fatty i really like the Islanders blue line, but yea the Russian is playing way better than he did in the 1st series.
- BetweenTheDots

How did this happen? Is it the one team added several years ago? Has the world stopped producing good players? Is it the new man-to-man defensive systems that some say (wrongly, and repeatedly) the beer league coach employs? Are there suddenly fewer exciting players?

Just curious.

C’mon D give your head a shake, with Dach and Toews the Hawks would have two number three centres.
- paulr

How did this happen? Is it the one team added several years ago? Has the world stopped producing good players? Is it the new man-to-man defensive systems that some say (wrongly, and repeatedly) the beer league coach employs? Are there suddenly fewer exciting players?

Just curious.
- mohel

Younger players being pushed in before their time and expansion. Expansion waters down every sport and it's often when records are set. The best are still the best but the worst is worse.

the problem with just continuing with most of our team being 3-4 D our worse and bottom 6 players is we are just good enough to be in the playoff converstaion (not good enough to make it) but not bad enough to draft in the top 3 other then the one year we got lucky with Dach. Drafting a coronato type player every year is not going to move the needle either. Gus and hamilton are not the same BTW Hamilton is the best off DEF in the league that last 3-4 years and is at a min AVG on D. Gus had one good year other then that he is a 3rd line off DEF. I think its long shot we get him but how are we going to get some high end players. not at #11? and not from anything we can trade unless its CAT or Kane. at some point we need to take a chance and hope all the young guys progress. if you put a few better payers around them it will make them all look better. IMO. Teams that just only go with young payers and hope they progress really never get anywhere. they end up in the lottery every year and players want to leave. if we are not going to bring in some real NHL talent then we should be trading Murp, Kane AND kIETH asAP.

Lets see what the Hawks front office thinks about the young players with the moves they make during the summer. I for one think this board (me included) have homer itis and overvalue our players. Hawks have 2 legit top 6 in Kane and ADB. Even on Montreal, Kubalik is a third liner (toffoli, Gallagher, Suzuki, Danault, Anderson, Kokoneimi) would play above Kubalik, as would the injured Drouin.
- LAHawk

Your post is obviously subjective, as Kane and ADB would be the best offensive players on the Habs. Would the Hawks be a stronger team if added talent forced Kubalik to the third line, of course, but in my opinion you can have a contending team with Kubalik on your top six. In this scenario you would need another two talented top six forwards and will also need to solidify the D corps. The goaltending might work itself out, we will see.

Your post is obviously subjective, as Kane and ADB would be the best offensive players on the Habs. Would the Hawks be a stronger team if added talent forced Kubalik to the third line, of course, but in my opinion you can have a contending team with Kubalik on your top six. In this scenario you would need another two talented top six forwards and will also need to solidify the D corps. The goaltending might work itself out, we will see.
- Angotti

Yes subjective, I think next year is a critical year as far as if the Hawks "rebuild" is on track. It all starts about a month from now when we should learn more about Toews as expansion draft lists are due 7/17. Will Toews be on the protected list? Or will he be considered unfit to play, and does not have to be protected.

Yes subjective, I think next year is a critical year as far as if the Hawks "rebuild" is on track. It all starts about a month from now when we should learn more about Toews as expansion draft lists are due 7/17. Will Toews be on the protected list? Or will he be considered unfit to play, and does not have to be protected.
- LAHawk

Agreed, we will have a much better idea on how far we are along on the rebuild next year. All these young guys are like a box of chocolates, “you never know what you’re going to get”. Maybe Borgstrom surprises, there will be some trades like Strome for example, who goes with him to maximize return? Big 25 year old defensemen have some value, if Z is traded what will he bring back? Again they can add to maximize return. This off-season will be interesting, let’s see how and what Stan does to upgrade the team, hopefully good young assets are added, and of course I’m sure he’ll sign a couple of vets on the cheap to add some experience like Janmark and Soda last year.

Hawks are not in any position to trade away prospects or draft picks. Simple as that. In a couple years maybe and even then we should look to free agency first.

Agreed, we will have a much better idea on how far we are along on the rebuild next year. All these young guys are like a box of chocolates, “you never know what you’re going to get”. Maybe Borgstrom surprises, there will be some trades like Strome for example, who goes with him to maximize return? Big 25 year old defensemen have some value, if Z is traded what will he bring back? Again they can add to maximize return. This off-season will be interesting, let’s see how and what Stan does to upgrade the team, hopefully good young assets are added, and of course I’m sure he’ll sign a couple of vets on the cheap to add some experience like Janmark and Soda last year.
- Angotti

I wouldn't mind the Hawks signing Janmark again, and flipping him again at the trade deadline.

Thank you, Theo.
Put me in the "grow your own" column.
Think about it. If Boqvist, Mitchell, Kalynuk and Beaudin all max out as solid d #2's, the Blackhawks have a pretty darn good defensive lineup.
- 35Tony0

Yes, until the real heavy banging starts in the playoffs and the little puck movers get frightened. None of them will adequately replace Keith.

Stanbo had the opportunity to grab Noah Dobson as his replacement for Seabrook but chose Boqvist instead. Now Barry Trotz is on the way to developing Dobson into a real good 15 year NHL dman.

Grow your own starts at the draft table.

Your post is obviously subjective, as Kane and ADB would be the best offensive players on the Habs. Would the Hawks be a stronger team if added talent forced Kubalik to the third line, of course, but in my opinion you can have a contending team with Kubalik on your top six. In this scenario you would need another two talented top six forwards and will also need to solidify the D corps. The goaltending might work itself out, we will see.
- Angotti

I agree, but not if he is the driver of the line. The Hawks need another couple of those, imo.

Lets see what the Hawks front office thinks about the young players with the moves they make during the summer. I for one think this board (me included) have homer itis and overvalue our players. Hawks have 2 legit top 6 in Kane and ADB. Even on Montreal, Kubalik is a third liner (toffoli, Gallagher, Suzuki, Danault, Anderson, Kokoneimi) would play above Kubalik, as would the injured Drouin.
- LAHawk

Didn't DCat stats take a dip because he was working on becoming a better 200 foot player the previous year? so i wouldn't be so quick to get rid of him or assume he's going to break the bank on his next contract.

If Verhaege can score as many points as he did playing along side a premium center, i have to imagine Kubs would be close to a 40 goal scorer every year, like Cat even playing on the 2nd PP unit

This feels like the wrong time to be going after players like these.

I hate to say it, but it feels like the future direction of this team is in one person's hands...Jonathan Toews. Once his status is settled, a lot will fall into place.
- hpk90

That’s a very true statement about Toews and the direction. When do we find out?